IT HAS EMERGED in the Dail that Sligo County Council is the only local authority in the country required to submit a long term financial plan which is agreeable to the Department of the Environment and which will allow the Council to draw down €1 million additional government funding which was announced in December.
The draw down is also conditional on ongoing review of the implementation of the agreed plan by way of quarterly review meetings between Council and Department officials.
In response to a Parliamentary Question from the United Left T.D. Clare Daly in the Dail this week the Minister for the Environment Mr Phil Hogan said “A similar approach was not adopted in relation to any other local authority reflecting the particular challenge to be addressed in the case of the finances of the Sligo local authority.
“€1 million of the general purpose grant allocation to Sligo County Council for 2014 is conditional on a realistic and achievable plan which charts a path to long-term financial sustainability being agreed between my Department and the Council.” he said.
“My Department is in regular and ongoing consultation with Sligo County Council in relation to their financial position and the finalisation of a long term financial plan, a process which is ongoing.” said the Minister.
Speaking this week Cllr Declan Bree said “The action the Department is taking is unprecedented but understandable. For the past number of years Council Management asked councillors to adopt annual budgets that were based on fantasy, budgets that were absurd and unrealistic, budgets that led to massive deficits in the revenue account each year. And unfortunately the majority of councillors placed their trust in the management and constantly voted for budgets which brought the Council to the verge of bankruptcy.
“The long-term plan which is now being discussed with the Department clearly needs to be brought before the elected Council for consideration at the soonest possible time.” said Cllr Bree.